Download Plants Under Attack

The Plant Kingdom
Plant Defenses Against
Animal Attack
Plant and Animal Relationships
(Part 2)
Living on Planet Earth
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Plant Defenses Against Animal Attack
Many plant species have defenses to keep from
being destroyed by animals. A plant comes under
attack when an animal chews it or deposits its eggs
into or upon the plant.
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Plant Defenses Against Animal Attack
Plants are unable to
move away from
danger but many have
strong defenses that
keep animals away.
Many unsuspecting
creatures are injured
as they eat the leaves,
stems or roots of
some plants.
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Plant Defenses Against Animal Attack
Surprisingly, many plants and animals help each
other to live and to reproduce.
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Plants Under Attack
Plants come under attack
from a variety of animals.
Many invertebrates lay
their eggs on or around
plants. The developing
larvae eat their way into
adulthood. Some eat the
leaves, stems, roots and
flowers of a plant.
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Plants Under Attack
Others make a hole into a leaf and form a complex tunnel.
Some bore their way into fruit or tree trunks. Sucking
insects draw nutrition out from the leaves.
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Plants Under Attack
Leaf-cutting ants carry large
pieces of leaves to their nest
and feed on the fungus grown
in the decomposed leaves.
Such animal activities make it
difficult for a plant to
photosynthesis, grow and
maintain good health.
Fungus is growing on bread.
Ant Hill
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Plants Under Attack
Some insects are more of a help than they are a danger to
a plant. It’s not unusual for a plant to provide shelter to
an animal that eats plant-eating bugs. The helping animal
will lay its eggs under a leaf in a pouch-like cavity created
by the plant.
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Plants Under Attack
Overall, the biggest risk to plant life is the threat of
being consumed by vertebrates. Although invertebrates
help spread the pollen and seeds of plants, fish,
amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals also consume
large quantities of those same plants’ materials.
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Plants Under Attack
Do you think a plant can eat an
animal? Some plants growing in
swamps and marshes don’t get
enough nitrogen, an important
mineral normally found in soil.
Bacteria and animal protein is
rich in nitrogen.
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Plants Under Attack
Unusual plant species found in these locations produce
colorful flowers or scented fluids that attract animals.
Curious animals such as flies, beetles, frogs and mice
enter the flowers and become trapped by sticky
digestive fluids.
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Plants Under Attack
The animals die and the insectivorous or carnivorous
plants absorb the needed minerals from the bodies of
those animals. That’s amazing.
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Plants Defend Themselves
Many plant species fight off
hungry animals with a
number of defenses. Some
have made their parts
unappealing or difficult to
eat.
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Plants Defend Themselves
Others use poison or weapons to
keep animals away. A few defend
themselves by tricking animals
into thinking they are dangerous.
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Plants Defend Themselves
Some leaves, stems and flowers are covered in hairs
making it difficult for even the smallest of creatures to
reach their nutritious part. Some plants trap small animals
using their sharp ended thorns or sticky hairs.
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Plants Defend Themselves
An animal will know
that a plant is using a
chemical defense as it
begins to eat the roots,
stem, leaves, flowers or
seeds of a plant. It will
experience unpleasant
tastes, have an upset
stomach or become sick
from the poison.
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Plants Defend Themselves
Stinging plant hairs inject an unsuspecting animal
with toxic fluid. Some animals are immune to a
plant’s poisons and can safely eat it. However, if
those animals are eaten, they pass the poison onto
their predator.
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Plants Defend Themselves
Some plants, unable to
produce their own poison,
mimic the looks of poisonous
plants. Animals familiar with
the poisonous species will
avoid eating both types.
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Plant Defenses Against Animal Attack
Plants have evolved and
adapted to complete their
life cycle if only to produce
enough seed to carry on the
species. Fruits and nuts are
bitter until they ripen. This
offers an important defense
that protects seeds until
they are ready to germinate.
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Plant Defenses Against Animal Attack
Mature seeds and nuts are
buried in the ground by
animals, some to be eaten,
and others to be forgotten
and left to sprout.
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Plant Defenses Against Animal Attack
Many others are transported by animals on their hair
and feathers or within their digestive system. When
the seeds are dropped or excreted by the animal they
may germinate at their new location.
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Plant Defenses Against Animal Attack
Plants and animals need each
other and have found a variety
of ways to maintain the balance
of nature.
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The Plant Kingdom
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and
Contributions from abcteach.com staff members,
and others as identified
Living on Planet Earth
© 2011 abcteach.com